The Saratoga Small Craft Story

Peter Verardi and Bob Gilston met in 2005 in the master’s program at Skidmore Community Rowing.  During a late season workout, they were rowing in a quad – Peter at stroke, Bob in three seat.

“It was one of those chilly, fall mornings with patchy fog.  Some landmarks – local boats at docks – had been pulled, so our familiar surroundings weren’t recognizable” Bob remembers.

“Something didn’t feel right,” Peter said.

Seconds later, the quad crashed into some shallow, protruding wood pilings, the remnants of an old railroad bridge. The bow was crushed and taking on water, but somehow, still rowable.   

“Bob said, ‘I can fix this,’ Peter recalls. “And I said, ‘I’d like to help. Let’s do it.’ ” 

The two of them, one a lifelong professional boat builder and the other a project manager in commercial construction, began the repair project.  They had decided that they would not only repair the damaged bow, but refurbish the entire hull and finish it off with new paint.

“We worked well together and had some fun.  One year later, Saratoga Small Craft opened its doors.”

The original plan was to build custom boats, but as avid rowers, they soon became the go-to guys for local, and then not-so-local rowers needing repairs or refurbishment for their shells. 

“During the season, we’re rowing at 6 in the morning,” Bob said. “After practice, we work on boats and talk about our row and the morning’s workout. You see and feel stuff you’d never experience at any other time of the day.”

“This is actually fun,” Peter said. ” We deal mostly with rowers, people who are passionate about the same sport we are. It’s satisfying to bring in a tired or damaged boat and send it out like new.”